It's a crying shame when you meet individuals who have never thought about goals or aspirations in life; it's humbling when those with dreams must compromise because consequences altered their path; but gosh darn it, it's inspiring when those with dreams can continue to endure through the adversity life brings.
One of my good friends, Dave Paclibar, has been working hard on promoting his band, A.D.D. It is clear to me that music and dance are his life's passions, and 2010 has been a good year for him. If you're superstitious, good luck occurs the year after his Chinese Zodiac, but an existentialist would say that it's hard work that has paid off. Either or, it is good to see my friend able to do what he loves. I hope he is able to succeed.
The trio (along with Josh Capulong and Marco Tran) have been posting their videos on YouTube and have been well-liked. Here's one of their most recent videos posted April 3, 2010.
They will be performing on Friday April 30, 2010 at the Colors for Cancer Benefit, located at Archbishop MacDonald High School in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Break a leg.
The Featured Acoustic Playlist 2.0 (FAP 2.0) has selected five finalists to play in San Diego this summer - finals results have not yet been announced, according to their website.
I thought I would spread the word about my friend's music through my blog because of the relation between the city and Di Chowmut's friends. Most of their music is located on Dave's channel, dpac85, so if you have some spare time, please check it out.
The market continued to free fall in the last hour of trading today. Too bad I made very little money on it, doubting the bearish signals that occurred throughout the day.
The Dow Jones Composite has fallen below the 50-day moving average, a technical indication that these drops may not be over. The VIX, which measures volatility, surged to over $22 at the close. This is an indication that uncertainty is back in the market.
World markets dropped heavily over night on news that Greece and Portugal bonds have been downgraded by Standard & Poors. The S&P believe that the two countries have a higher probability of defaulting now and noted that bondholders should expect to get about 30 per cent back on their original investment if the small nation goes bankrupt. Greek bonds are now below investment grade.
The market's recent wave of negative news coming out of Europe has dampened the market's rally. As we head into the summer months (historically not as profitable), many may have started the selling early. The world's markets have shifted its focus back on Europe and what will transpire.
Personally, I would like to think that Greece and Portugal will not go bankruptcy, as we have already seen the EU attempt to bail out Greece in the past few weeks. Once the ordeal boils over, I believe many will see this as yet another buying opportunity. But let's just hope I'm right.
Last night, I went to watch the movie "Kick-Ass" with my friends. The movie is based on a comic series from Marvel Comics of the same name. The original comic series was written by Mark Millar, who is well-known for "Wanted" and "Marvel Knights Spider Man" just to name a few. It published it's first comic book in February 2008 and has ceased publication of its first volume since February 2010. A sequel is set to be released in the upcoming days.
Prior to entering the movie, I had heard positive reviews from friends and colleagues, and shall I say, I was not disappointed.
The movie is not for the squeamish. It contains many fight scenes filled with blood and chopping of limbs. Although I myself am not a fan of extreme violence in movies, many of the fight scenes were entertaining because of their original style flips, fights, and angles.
The main characters are easily relatable: Three high school chums who are bullied for lunch money and invisible to all girls, but are great friends because of it. They connect through comic books and meet up at a regular place to enjoy time together. The main character, Dave Lizewski (Aaron Johnson) also has his "Lois Lane," Katie Deauxma (Lyndsy Fonseca) and like every super hero, he strives to do anything for her. [On a side note, Katie is really, really, pretty... I think I have a new girl to replace Penny from Big Bang.]
Aside from the action, there are many lines of humour as well. For those that are comic nerds, you may find it a little more humourous because of their discussions about Spiderman or you may recognize some of the costumes in the movie.
There was also a subtle theme towards bystanders not acting against wrongful acts. Many times in the movie, there are moments where you get to think about the world for what it is, how heroes can emerge from anywhere, and why risk must be calculated.
Although this movie went overboard on the violence for my taste, I thought this was a great movie. If you like action, humour, and strong plot, you will enjoy this movie. I give this movie 4 out of 5.
This movie is not available in 3-D and ID will be required when entering the theatre, due to its 18+ rating (in Canada).
The great thing about networking is that it provides individuals with ample opportunities to succeed and fulfill their dreams. Well, over the last few weeks, I have been in discussions with a friend to assist in running my own private equity fund. And today, I sent my business plan to him.
I won't get into the full details for privacy reasons, but I am truly excited. Maybe it's my ego, but I know I can match the best funds out there. My friend has given me the first big opportunity of my life to be a millionaire, or even a billionaire. For now, I will leave it at that and get ready to enjoy the weekend, if the rain ever stops.
I've decided to write this on my blog so that my readers get to know more about me. This is the first time I have announced this potential future of mine, and this is the only place I will announce it.
Wish me luck people and I hope that I do become the next big thing in the financial markets.
When I was growing up, Apple [AAPL:NASD] was the not-so-great computer system that nobody ever had. Microsoft [MSFT:NASD] was basically the only player in the computer programming and technology industry. However, over the last decade, Apple has emerged with popular and profitable products, which have allowed Apple's shares to hit all-time highs, again.
Since the first days of March, Apple's stock has continued to break all-time highs week after week. On Tuesday, the stock announced earnings and the stock soared to new heights. Apple's products have built a loyal fan base, and that has been the key to their success.
It all started in 1998 with the iMac, a revamped Macintosh computer better than earlier versions. In the years following, iMacs or "Macbooks" became popular for their superior video and music editing, obtained through buyouts and unique technology.
But their brand name became mainstream when they invented some small mp3 player called the iPod. A decade later, it seems everyone wears those famous white headphones. They created many versions of the iPod which gave consumers choices in price range and services offered, such as the Touch and the Mini.
During the days of Napster and Limewire, many questioned why anybody would pay for music when it can be obtained so freely and iTunes was not universal. Many did not expect Apple to succeed at all, but those people were wrong, and although free music can be downloaded, people still like their iTunes because of its many services beyond just downloading music.
In 2007, they would enter the phone industry and change everything. The iPhone was in high demand, and eventually allowed creative and imaginative entrepreneurs to develop applications that allowed people to play games, measure sleeping patterns, or find local restaurants.
And lastly, in 2010, they released the iPad, a multi-media tablet. Early sales have shown considerable strength, but whether the novelty effect wears off or not remains to be seen.
Apple has changed the face of many industries in the last decade and many are excited to see what they have in store. It seems like they have touched every corner of the technology world: computer, telephone, televisions, and music. It seems like there isn't any where else they can expand to, but that's the great thing about this company. Although I don't own any Apple products myself, the company's revival has been magnificent to follow. They are the perfect example of how investing in a company that produces great products can pay off for you.
The game of poker has been played for a few decades, with Texas Hold 'Em becoming very popular and mainstream in the last five years, but my group of friends invented a new card game full of excitement, drama, and requires no skill. We call it JAK3.
The game is very easy. Spread a deck of cards around on the floor, or table, or counter, whatever medium you choose, and have each person pick a card one at a time. The goal is to spell JAK3 using the Jack, Ace, King, and three. The game is designed for 2+ but works best when there are four to six players, as people get eliminated and you can see revenge and rivalries take shape.
We had filmed a game of JAK3 but I have not been given this film yet, so I may post up a second blog to show it. However, my friend took a photo of her winning hand.
As you can see, you keep the Jacks, Aces, Kings, or threes to eliminate others, forcing the remaining few to find the fewer winning cards. The best part about this game is that anybody can without getting a JAK3. For example, if five players are in the game, and persons A, B, C, and D have an Ace, but player E has J, K, 3, he is eliminated, because all the aces are out!
The game, although requires no skill, gets quite competitive, especially for a fun drinking game, or a good way to battle out disputes. I'm hoping to spread the game around the world because it is surprisingly fun. If you have tried this with your friends, please post a video up for me to see. I would like to know if the intensity my group of friends had with this game is easily matched.
For months now, I have written that the US economy continues to strengthen, and more news in the last two days adds to my conviction.
On Tuesday (April 13), chipmaker Intel [INTC:NSAQ] posted a record quarter, quadrupling profits. The company has risen 60 per cent in the last 12 months, keeping pace with the general markets. Intel commented that demand for their chips are rising, boosted by rising demand in computers and netbooks. Wall Street has been making a lot of money, but for the first time, Intel has given great news to Main Street.
The company announced in their first quarter results that they will be hiring 1,000 to 2,000 employees in 2010. Many analysts were waiting to see large corporations start hiring, which would really indicate the end of the recession.
Unemployment data, which is a lagging indicator, has remained flat at 9.7 per cent for the last quarter. If the unemployment rate can decrease in dramatic fashion, we could really see confidence in the consumer again. Just last week, US retail data showed that consumers have already started to open their wallets.
The Beige Book also showed signs of good news. 11 of 12 regions showed improving economic conditions.
Global recovery has also been signified in OPEC estimations, Asian GDP growth, and interest rate hikes.
Glad to see hard working Americans, Canadians, and everyone else will finally catch a break.
The race for the final playoff spots in the Eastern Conference proved to be one of the most exciting and dramatic finishes I have experienced. To see the Flyers win the shoot out to eliminate the Rangers and lift their team into the final playoff spot was intense. But, now the race is over, and it is time for these teams to settle down and aim for the Stanley Cup.
When it comes to predicting the Eastern Conference series, it's safe to say upsets probably will not occur. The division leaders and the Penguins are just too strong against the other four teams. They've had consistency all year the top four teams are going into the playoffs with 5 or more wins in their final ten games. So, let me break down my predictions and my personal analysis of each series.
[1]Washington Capitals vs. [8]Montreal Canadiens
Washington finished the year on top of the NHL with the most goals for, points, and wins. The team also finished first on the power play with a stunning 25.2 per cent, almost 3.5 per cent better than second place, which happens to be the Canadiens. Many have criticized the Capitals goaltending as insufficient for a long playoff run, but both Theodore and Varlamov have comparable statistics to Marc-Andre Fleury (Pittsburgh). Experience is the only real difference between Fleury and the Caps goalies.
It's honestly tough to believe the Habs have a chance at taking down the NHL's President's Award winners, but if there's a will, there's a way. Although the regular season goals allowed by both teams is only a difference of 10, recent play by Halak has shown he is the new number one goaltender in Montreal, at least until he makes a mistake in the playoffs. The Habs will only win if they can outscore the Capitals on the special teams, and making sure they limit the power play chances they give to the Capitals.
With that said, the Capitals should easily take this series in 5. I'm giving Montreal credit they can win one game here. Washington's fire power, at least for the first round, will prove an asset and will overcome any goaltending issues. Goals will be scored in this series and I will be betting the over every time.
[2]New Jersey Devils vs. [7]Philadelphia Flyers
The Devils have the best goalie in NHL history. Enough said! Well, that would have been what most would have said about the Devils in previous years, but this year the team added some fire power in Kovalchuk, and Parise and Zajac continue to produce offensively on the Devils. Langenbrunner is a perennial point-producer in the playoffs as well, and could very well be among the points leaders at the end of the first round.
The only way the Flyers can win this series is if their goalie, Boucher, can out duel Brodeur. Good luck with that. The Flyers are capable of scoring, but seem to take a lot of penalties. They are fortunate that the Devils power play is ranked in the middle of the league, however, that doesn't mean the Flyers will get away with it. The team needs to stay out of the box to increase their offensive chances. Richards who leads the league in face-off percentage (according to TSN) will provide the team with ample offensive zone wins, but they must crash the net and do what the Americans did against Brodeur in the Olympics. One other positive note is that the Flyers won the season series 6-2, but I do not expect that to translate into playoff wins.
Sadly, as a Flyers fan, I expect a very low-scoring series with the Devils winning in 6.
[3]Buffalo Sabres vs. [6]Boston Bruins
Olympic team mates Thomas and Miller will face each other in the playoffs in the first round, that is, if Thomas gets to start. Rask has been playing well enough and the team may end up going with the youngen. Buffalo's offense is average, but goaltending is spectacular. Both teams boast great penalty killing, ranked second and third.
Boston on the other hand has very little to talk about. Lowest scoring team (second to Calgary HAHAHA!) going against one of the best goalies in the league and although Rask has the best save percentage in the league, can he sustain that in the playoffs? Their best player, Savard, will not be in the line up and that equates to a short playoff journey. At least the team can celebrate a second overall draft pick, including another first rounder.
Defense will be the theme of this series, or is it a lack of offense... either or, Buffalo takes this series in 6. No Savard, no win. Bet under for each game. I wouldn't be surprised if each game is less than 4 goals, and hitting 4 with empty netters.
[4]Pittsburgh Penguins vs. [5]Ottawa Senators
It's too early to tell, but this will be the best series in the East. Two great teams going into the playoffs with good records and tonnes of confidence.
The Penguins have a lot of talent, but goaltending has been inconsistent this year. Fleury's play at the start proved the playoff hangover was a myth, but as the season wore on, we saw Fleury become a little more human. The team has enough offense to win games, but Fleury needs to step up his game if the Pens want to repeat. The team has Crosby and Malkin, who seem to be playing inspired hockey. The Pens also have the best third line in the league and will be able to get secondary scoring.
The Senators will have to prove many that they deserve to be in the second round and must resolve their problems. First, the team has lost Kovalev, and a goalie who has very little NHL experience, let alone NHL playoff games. The team's lack of success on the road will also be an issue. If they continue to lose on the road, they can not expect to win in the playoffs, especially when they do not have home-ice advantage.
For the Senators skill and potential, this series will end in 6, with their away games being extremely embarrassing. Expect a lot of scoring as well, so betting over might be best.
Well, those are my final predictions for the Eastern Conference Quarter Finals. The playoffs start tomorrow, so let's hope they are great. Have any thoughts on my predictions? Post them up please.
The NHL Playoffs start Wednesday April 14, and sixteen great teams will fight it out for the Stanley Cup. But winning the ultimate prize comes with both skill and a little bit of luck. In the West, two teams are entering the playoffs with very little experience, and that could be a downfall. Others are entering hot, while other teams have free fallen in the past several games, which could lead to a short post-season run.
It is safe to say that each series has the potential for a great battle, and below, I have provided my thoughts on each match-up with predictions on the winner, length of series, average goals per game, and other notes. Today, I will post up my predictions in the Western Conference - tomorrow I will post up the East.
[1] San Jose Sharks vs. [8] Colorado Avalanche
The San Jose Sharks have disappointed fans (and themselves) in the playoffs over the past few seasons, but all those lost games will eventually lead to experience and ultimately success. The Sharks boasted the best record in the West and are going into the playoffs extremely hot, with a last-10 record of 8-1-1. However, Nabakhov's goaltending has been volatile since the Olympic break, and questions in goaltending can not be avoided. Heatley has been the best acquisition by the team this year and could be what the Sharks need to make it to round 3. The team currently has no key injuries that can hold them back, so expect the Sharks to end this series as soon as possible.
On the other side, the Avs have fallen from division contenders to eighth in the West. Anderson's goaltending as of late has been a little shoddy, and after 82-games, the Avs have the most goals allowed in the west (out of all playoff teams). That doesn't hold well against one of the leagues most elite scoring teams. Key injuries to Duchene and Mueller will prove costly and their mediocre special teams will have to turn it up.
With that being said, San Jose will win this series 4-1; games will be high scoring, mostly on the Sharks part, so betting over could prove profitable.
[2]Chicago Black Hawks vs. [7]Nashville Predators
The Hawks are one of the league's young and talented teams, with many more years of success on the horizon. Toews and Kane will prove to be key assets and as long as their scoring success continues, this will be a short series. People had questioned the Hawks goaltending, but considering they are second in the west in goals allowed, I believe it is not justified. Their goaltending issues clearly stems from inexperience, but let's not forget that the job of a goalie is just to keep the puck out, so I personally believe experience should not be too much of a factor, especially since Nashville's goaltending is not extremely any better. The Hawks have both youth and veteran players with Stanley Cup rings, and their penalty killing will prove beneficial.
The Predators on the other hand should expect a tough, and short series. They are going in with the 4th worst penalty-killing in the entire league, and the worst of all playoff bound teams. The only way the Predators can win is if they can stay out of the box and some how exploit Niemi. Another downfall with this team is their weakness in offense. They have the fewest goals for of any playoff team and goaltending has not been strong either. Although the team has 18 more wins than losses, they have scored and allowed an equal amount of goals. The team lacks impact players that can turn the tide in a 2-2 game.
Chicago should win this series easily, with a possible sweep. This series should not go more than 5 games and games will be low scoring, with the majority being from the Hawks.
[3]Vancouver Canucks vs. [6]Los Angeles Kings
The Canucks have proven to be an elite team for the first time in many years. They were always pretenders, but this year, they are Canada's best chance at a Stanley Cup. Offense had been a long-time issue for this team, but this year, the Sedin's are hot, with Henrik winning the Art Ross and scoring coming from all four lines and the back end. If the top line is shut down, secondary scoring should get the job done. Luongo's solid play in the Olympics will also give the team confidence, however, his play during the NHL year should also be questioned. The Canucks have allowed 222 goals this year, which is only 2 goals below the entire NHL average. Luongo is supposed to be one of the greatest ever, but which Luongo will show up? The Olympic gold medalist or the average goalie he has been often named.
The Kings are making their first appearance in 8 years. Another young team with a many more years to go. First round picks, Kopitar, Doughty, and others will finally get a chance to feel the energy that is the playoffs. One concern will be Quick's goaltending. He has not won a game in 8 attempts, and had a poor performance to end his season against the Oilers. Ersberg will not get the start, so if Quick wants to win this series, he must muster the confidence to beat the top scoring line in the league.
Each team have remarkably similar special teams statistics, but the key difference is the recent goaltending. The Canucks will win this series in 7 with games reaching six or more goals very probable.
[4]Phoenix Coyotes vs. [5]Detroit Red Wings
The Coyotes have shown that if a team concentrates on playing hockey, they can be successful. All the off-ice drama and attention has not affected this team's continued winning throughout the year, led by Bryzgalov fantastic goaltending. Phoenix has allowed the fewest goals in the West and expect that to continue. Trade deadline acquisitions (Stempniak and Wolski) have paid dividends to the team. One concern is the teams lack of experience in the playoffs.
The Red Wings are going in extremely hot. Just a month ago, they were fighting for 8th place, but leaped up to 5th, and if the season was any longer, would have taken 4th. The Wings have an abundance of experience, and almost all their players have won the Stanley Cup prior (mostly as a Wing). This team is not the same team as they had been prior to the Olympics, and a run back to the Finals for the third year in a row is not out of the question. Howard, who had question marks all around him, has proven he is the go-to guy, but whether or not he can out battle Bryzgalov remains to be seen. The team has just too much experience and can handle the pressure. Too many players have been here before, and it may just be another game to them.
This series will be very interesting, but the Wings should take this series in 6, possibly 7. Scoring will be low, but key players on the Wings, like Zetterberg and Datsyuk will shine in the playoffs.
Well those are my picks and some of my reasons. What are your thoughts on my picks, or do you have your own reasons why you agree or disagree? Let me know.
Sonomax [SOMX:NSDQ] was a stock I had traded heavily a few weeks ago as it had a huge run. I made some mad cash, and wished I could have blogged about it, but the risk and volatility was something I did not want my readers and friends (who I've heard read it) to endure through. In fact, I bought it one more time for fun and it dropped hard on me. I still own it, but it looks like a buying opportunity has presented itself.
Now that the volatility on the company has settled, we are getting to see some more stable trading, albeit 4 per cent swings in a day isn't traditionally stable. The stock bounced off $8 support two days ago, and has steadily climbed, also breaking out of a triangle or wedge formation. The streaming 6-month chart of Sonomax courtesy of BigCharts below shows this technical break out.
Normally, a break upwards in a flag formation, like the one above, moves up equal to the length of the flagpole (or the initial spike). That is, the spike went from $4 to $10 in about a day. Now, normally this holds true and break outs will add another $6, but I think this is a different spike which won't gather as much momentum. It seems that $10 is heavy resistance, so I would consider to sell in the high $9 range.
Consider watching the stock if you do not want to own a biopharm company with no revenue. This is purely a speculative play so do not put a lot of money into it. The company has not yet released its FDA-approved sleep aid pill into the market, but plans on getting them on the shelves in the future.
The good thing about this stock is that it moves a lot in a day, so it is possible to buy it on a down day and immediately sell it the next day for a good profit.
A few weeks ago, I expressed my delight at Google's decision to leave China in an article titled "Ideals of Humanity Should Over Rule." I didn't plan on making the title a recurring blog theme, but clearly, there are enough serious (and even irrational) issues that must be brought to the attention of my friends and anonymous readers. So today, I proclaim that the Ideals of Humanity Should Over Rule will be a recurring feature on my blog, which will continue to touch the more human side of life. There is no doubt the U.S. Health Care Reform (and Student Loans) Bill has created controversy in America, but last night I was watching "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" and found to my dismay American Health Insurance Companies trying to find loop holes that would allow them to deny coverage to sick children.
The original law states, "A health insurance issuer offering group individual health insurance coverage may not impose any preexisting condition exclusion with respect to such plan or coverage." Section 2704, Clause A. In other words, an Insurer can not use pre-existing conditions (maybe terminal cancer, etc.) to deny a child health care coverage. But guess what loophole they found? It doesn't say they can't deny coverage to the child.
The spirit of the law required insurance companies to provide health insurance to children, even if they already have diseases or conditions that might render them unprofitable to big firms, but because it does not state they must cover the child, they technically do not have to cover the entire child plus the illnesses. What a joke!
Now, as a proponent of capitalism, I can see where they are coming from, but as a proponent of human beings and life, I do not agree with what these Insurance Companies are trying to do. The burden that is faced in America when a family member is sick is enormous, something I can not empathize with since I am Canadian. But, as your friendly neighbour, I share the anger that most Americans feel regarding this loophole hunt.
It is not surprising to me to find companies trying to find loopholes. They want to preserve their profits, but individuals siding with Insurers ticks me off even more. I found this comment on a news article from the Huffington Post.
Wow! Does this person get his rationale from O'Reilly or something? With that logic, if you asked me not to punch you in the face, and then I asked a friend to punch you, then it is really your fault. Clearly, the spirit of your request was to prevent injury to your visage, but of course, I found a loop hole. What a ridiculous sense of logic you carry. I agree that loopholes derive from poorly written rules or laws, especially if misinterpretation is prominent, but in a situation like this, how dare someone argue that a loophole exists.
Insurance was born under a common thread that participants all pool their money to assist their colleagues during times of disaster. Where are the "good hands" of the "good neighbour" that I see on television ads?
The enemy of your enemy is not always your friend. For anybody who supports what the Insurance Companies are doing, consider finding a family with a disabled child. See the uncertainty, the turmoil, the fear the family endures to keep their loved one alive and tell me that you still believe what the Insurers are doing is right.
To everyone including politicians, CEOs of Insurance Companies, Conservatives, Libearls, everyone: Do not be blinded by your political affiliations. Take a look at the situation and step back for a minute, realize that the debate you are about to raise includes the lives of thousands, maybe millions of individuals who need support more than you ever will.
It has been quite a while since an IPO garnered such attention, but Primerica [PRI:NYSE] shares lived up to its hype, at least for the first day. By mid-day trading, the stock was trading above $20, reaching as high as $20.20, more than $5 above its $15 initial offering price with 15 million shares trading hands.
The company is a spin-off from Citigroup [C:NYSE] who raised $320 million from the sale. Many believed that the IPO would sell well because the shares were undervalued at $12-14. According to Reuters, the company is trading at 0.7 times book value, when most insurers trade near 1.0 times. This would mean the company's shares fair value compared to its peers is $20.
Primerica has a unique marketing and employment strategy that has been controversial, which has prompted lawsuits against the company. Despite this, the company has over 100,000 employees across North America working as independent agents.
Normally, a break upwards in a flag formation, like the one above, moves up equal to the length of the flagpole (or the initial spike). That is, the spike went from $4 to $10 in about a day. Now, normally this holds true and break outs will add another $6, but I think this is a different spike which won't gather as much momentum. It seems that $10 is heavy resistance, so I would consider to sell in the high $9 range.
Consider watching the stock if you do not want to own a biopharm company with no revenue. This is purely a speculative play so do not put a lot of money into it. The company has not yet released its FDA-approved sleep aid pill into the market, but plans on getting them on the shelves in the future.
The good thing about this stock is that it moves a lot in a day, so it is possible to buy it on a down day and immediately sell it the next day for a good profit.